Mark Dalio’s OceanX Is on a Mission to Explore the 80% of Earth That’s Still Unseen

6 月 6, 2025

9:32 上午

Key Takeaways:

OceanX is leading next-gen ocean exploration with missions in the Red Sea, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic.
The OceanXplorer vessel enables scientific firsts—from mapping seafloors to filming deep-sea predator behavior.
Founder Mark Dalio says a mix of ocean science and storytelling is key to building global support for marine protection.

A new frontier—beneath the waves

“Despite most of our world being covered by the ocean, much of it is unexplored, so there is much work to be done,” says Mark Dalio, Founder and Co-CEO of OceanX.

Dalio’s mission is urgent: over 80% of the world’s ocean has never been mapped, explored, or even seen by humans. Through OceanX, he is driving a movement that combines deep-sea science, immersive media, and educational engagement to ignite public passion for the ocean—and protect it before it’s too late.

OceanX’s state-of-the-art vessel, the OceanXplorer, has enabled dozens of scientific milestones. These include the first submersible dives to the Antarctic seafloor, tagging a six-gill shark on camera, and mapping high-resolution seafloor topography in places like Bimini and the Red Sea. The ship’s four onboard laboratories allow researchers to study marine ecosystems in real time while filming content that captures the public imagination.

Science meets storytelling

Dalio has long understood the power of storytelling to build awareness and shift behavior. OceanX has partnered with James Cameron, National Geographic, and the BBC Natural History Unit to produce documentaries like OceanXplorers and Oceans: Our Blue Planet. The goal: bring the ocean’s wonder to millions and turn curiosity into conservation.

“When we returned to the surface, I knew I wanted to share what I had seen with the world,” Dalio recalls of his first submersible dive. “I wanted to show people how amazing the ocean is and how much remains to be discovered.”

OceanX is also expanding globally. The team has established an office in Singapore, with a five-year plan to work alongside Southeast Asian nations on regional marine protection, capacity-building, and education.

Science meets storytelling

“When we returned to the surface, I knew I wanted to share what I had seen with the world,” Dalio recalls of his first submersible dive. “I wanted to show people how amazing the ocean is and how much remains to be discovered.”

Scaling awareness, one explorer at a time

Mark Dalio is adamant that ocean conservation is not just for marine biologists—it’s a global, interdisciplinary effort. OceanX invests in immersive learning experiences and education portals to spark interest among engineers, data analysts, communicators, and creatives.

“Through educational programs and immersive experiences, we can inspire and attract the next generation of ocean leaders,” Mark Dalio says.

By tying ocean science directly to global challenges like climate resilience (SDG 13) and ocean biodiversity protection (SDG 14), OceanX is making a compelling case for redirecting investment from space to sea. “The ocean is something that is right here, and that each of us is completely dependent on,” he adds.

Part of a global vision for change

Mark Dalio’s contribution is featured in Visions for the Future, a global anthology curated by Amir Dossal of the Global Partnerships Forum. The book highlights changemakers reshaping the world—from civic rights defenders to climate tech entrepreneurs—and calls readers to act.